A Strange Way to Get the Word Out
When dead people spring back to life it causes quite a stir. Lazarus and his story was drawing a LOT of attention to Jesus. Crowds were flocking in to the Festival and Jesus was a popular Hebrew man that foreigners were intrigued by. The authorities, interested in grasping hold of power and maintaining their power structure did not like this. In John 12:19 (NIV) they show their hand, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
In response, Jesus declares that suffering will be his hallmark and road back to redemption. This is his reply to a request for a meet up with some of his fans. "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." John 12:23-24 NIV
His disciples did not realize it then, but now, in hindsight, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear, we see it. Jesus is offering us a choice. Jesus was having a moment of popularity; he was also clear about his choices. He was saying, look guys, if you love your life here and are committed to its success, this is what you get. But if you hate your life, in the sense that you hate all the ways we are swayed by popularity, prosperity and people pleasing...if you hate that? Start chasing God. That is the path to true abundance. And it is super hard. Even for Jesus.
"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"
John 12:27 NIV
Jesus is troubled. Maybe Jesus is even tempted to go be the big man in the community. But Jesus is a guy who made his choice in the calm of choosing his calling and sticks by it even when it looks like a big failure and in the midst of impending chaos.
What choices do you need to make now, during a calm moment in your life that you will be asked to commit to even when things get rough in the future? This needs to be carefully thought out my dear friends. This is not a decision to take lightly. As Jesus said, "Count the cost." It will be high.
